CHATTER: Kylie Fitts picks Utah

Kylie Fitts transfers

After announcing earlier this month that he would be transferring from UCLA just before the start of his sophomore season, former Redlands East Valley High football star defensive lineman Kylie Fitts posted on twitter Monday he would transfer to Utah. Other media outlets had reported it last weekend.

Fitts tweeted out a picture from the Utah football instagram account of himself, with the text: “Officially a Ute!!! So excited for a new beginning! Proud to be apart of this family! #UteGang.”

Utah had originally recruited Fitts out of high school, but Fitts initially chose USC. He changed his mind and went with UCLA when USC was unable to let him enroll early.

As part of NCAA transfer rules, Fitts will not be eligible to play until 2015 and will have three years of eligibility remaining.

California League season winds down

Monday’s off day leaves the California League with a seven games left in the regular season, and while some things have been decided, there’s still something left to settle in terms of the playoff picture.

In the South Division, Lancaster won the first half and Lake Elsinore also clinched a spot as the Storm will get either the wild-card spot or the second-half title.

But the second-half title is very much up for grabs, Lake Elsinore and Lancaster (32-31) are tied for first, but the 66ers (31-32) are just a game back, the Quakes (30-33) are two games back and High Desert (29-34) is three games back.

Should Lake Elsinore or Lancaster win the second half, the third playoff berth will go to the team with the next-best overall record. High Desert (63-70) leads that race, by a game over the Quakes (62-71). The Sixers (56-77) are seven games back of High Desert, so their playoff chances ride on being able to win the second-half title.

The Quakes host the Sixers for three games starting Tuesday. The Sixers end the season with four games at Lancaster, while the Quakes play four at Lancaster. High Desert, meanwhile, ends its season with a seven-game homestand against Lancaster and San Jose.

CIF State announced football bowl change

After two years of expanded state high school football playoffs, the Open Division is back to its original format.

The CIF State announced on Monday that the state football selection committee would select the top team from the north and the top team from the south, and automatically advance them to the state championship game in the Open Division.

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While eliminated in the Open Division, state regional championship games will remain for Divisions I-IV.